CCM 208: LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION
SESSION 1: UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP
Introduction
Today’s organizations are quite complex and dynamic; consequently, there is a high demand for
leaders who are able to communicate effectively. People cannot succeed in life without
communicating effectively. Unfortunately, many leaders have overlooked this important concept
and are unable to connect to others while communicating.
In today’s global society, it is important for leaders to be able to connect with their followers
because it creates an atmosphere of unity, equality, and transparency.
Leaders who are able communicate and connect to others are able to influence followers on a
deeper and personal level.
Some people say that leadership is not something performed by “common” people, but only by
those heading countries or political parties, or chairing boards or working as the CEOs of large
organizations.
They see leadership as only a top-level and grand-scale activity, but throughout our lives we will
all find ourselves in situations that require us to take the lead eg At work we may be asked to
organize a meeting, workshop, or conference; at home we may decide to organize a family reunion;
at school we may help launch a new activity for our fellow-students; in the street we may witness
an accident and want to assist those involved.
In this course we shall look at communication skills we can all use both in leadership and
followership roles and in both grand-scale and everyday situations.
Defining key Terms
Who is a leader?
A leader is one who is able to affect positive change for the betterment of others, the community,
and society. All people, in other words, are potential leaders
, A leader is a person who produces change. Therefore an individual who exerts influence, establish
the path forward (the way to go) is a leader.
The leader makes a difference in the road others choose to ravel by influencing others to take one
path rather than the another, prodding others to work towards achieving a particular goal by
convincing them that reaching this goal will make the future better and for that reason it is worthy
of their time and attention
Followers-those individuals who join with the leader by applauding his or her efforts and supplying
the needed way to go.
Leadership process =Leaders +Followers
What is leadership?
There are as many different definitions of leadership as there are different scholars and different
perspectives.
Leadership is an interactive process during which one or more individuals use symbols to
influence other individuals to join with them in accomplishing change and realizing a shared
objective.1
Leaders use symbols to influence-it means that leaders rely on language both verbal and nonverbal
to communicate their vision to their followers and accomplish their goals. The language leaders
use determine if and to what extent they will succeed in rallying others to support their goals
Leadership accomplishes change and realizes a shared objective- it means that leading involves
influencing others to join with the leader in altering the status quo in pursuit of a mutual goal.
Other definitions of leadership
Leadership can be defined as “the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of
goals.”
1
Gamble T.K. and Gamble M.W. (2013) leading with Communication: A practical Approach to Leadership
Communication. London: Sage Publications
SESSION 1: UNDERSTANDING COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP
Introduction
Today’s organizations are quite complex and dynamic; consequently, there is a high demand for
leaders who are able to communicate effectively. People cannot succeed in life without
communicating effectively. Unfortunately, many leaders have overlooked this important concept
and are unable to connect to others while communicating.
In today’s global society, it is important for leaders to be able to connect with their followers
because it creates an atmosphere of unity, equality, and transparency.
Leaders who are able communicate and connect to others are able to influence followers on a
deeper and personal level.
Some people say that leadership is not something performed by “common” people, but only by
those heading countries or political parties, or chairing boards or working as the CEOs of large
organizations.
They see leadership as only a top-level and grand-scale activity, but throughout our lives we will
all find ourselves in situations that require us to take the lead eg At work we may be asked to
organize a meeting, workshop, or conference; at home we may decide to organize a family reunion;
at school we may help launch a new activity for our fellow-students; in the street we may witness
an accident and want to assist those involved.
In this course we shall look at communication skills we can all use both in leadership and
followership roles and in both grand-scale and everyday situations.
Defining key Terms
Who is a leader?
A leader is one who is able to affect positive change for the betterment of others, the community,
and society. All people, in other words, are potential leaders
, A leader is a person who produces change. Therefore an individual who exerts influence, establish
the path forward (the way to go) is a leader.
The leader makes a difference in the road others choose to ravel by influencing others to take one
path rather than the another, prodding others to work towards achieving a particular goal by
convincing them that reaching this goal will make the future better and for that reason it is worthy
of their time and attention
Followers-those individuals who join with the leader by applauding his or her efforts and supplying
the needed way to go.
Leadership process =Leaders +Followers
What is leadership?
There are as many different definitions of leadership as there are different scholars and different
perspectives.
Leadership is an interactive process during which one or more individuals use symbols to
influence other individuals to join with them in accomplishing change and realizing a shared
objective.1
Leaders use symbols to influence-it means that leaders rely on language both verbal and nonverbal
to communicate their vision to their followers and accomplish their goals. The language leaders
use determine if and to what extent they will succeed in rallying others to support their goals
Leadership accomplishes change and realizes a shared objective- it means that leading involves
influencing others to join with the leader in altering the status quo in pursuit of a mutual goal.
Other definitions of leadership
Leadership can be defined as “the ability to influence a group toward the achievement of
goals.”
1
Gamble T.K. and Gamble M.W. (2013) leading with Communication: A practical Approach to Leadership
Communication. London: Sage Publications
